Animations

Fuzzy
Artist notes: Blending graphic design elements like typography and shape language, Fuzzy is a bittersweet story of living with darkness. Our central character shares their discovery of ‘meditation for fidgets’ in this brief but powerful animation.
Link to research: Creative practice provides personalised coping strategies, giving people some level of control over living with mental health conditions.

Little Red Boots
Artists Notes: Do you remember the joy of wearing your favourite shoes as a child? In this animation, I revisit my childhood memories of my beloved red boots and their adventures. ”I was inspired by my own childhood experience of wearing red boots that made me feel happy and adventurous. I wanted to reconnect with that feeling.” Watch as they escape from a dusty box and splash into a puddle of fun!
Link to research: Creativity and arts helps us link to memories and our past selves, providing opportunities for positive emotions.

Shadows
Artist notes: What happens when the lights go out and the shadows come alive? In this animation, I invite you to join me on a journey through the dark side of childhood imagination. You will see shadows that transform into a ship, a bird, and other mysterious creatures. “I was inspired by the contrast between the light and the dark, and how they can create different stories and emotions in our minds. I wanted to explore the idea of shadows as a source of both fear and wonder, and how they can reveal things that we might not see otherwise.“
Link to research: Often creative activities can help people process difficult emotions and expereinces through non-verbal self-expression. This isn’t the explicit point of ‘Shadows’ but it touches on a similar idea.

Reconnection by Acorn
Artist notes: I wanted to explore the process of reconnection through my animation. “To me, reconnection is a way of slowly beginning to recreate a solid sense of self and re-learning how to live with chronic illness, neurodiversity, and mental illness.” It was important to me to use natural materials as I wanted to express how much feeling part of the natural world has helped me to come to terms with my new normal.
Research notes: Personal recovery, ie, living well with illness, is a process not a destination. This animation shows us the reality of becoming ill and identity being overwhelmed. Through the support of others and the natural world (an equally important creative outlet), people can begin to reconnect to parts of themselves beyond illness and foster acceptance.

Little Dog
Artist notes: Within my final project, I first wanted to explore the theme of reconnection through rediscovering a childhood hobby, it being stop-motion animation. It was initially going to be a comparison between the nuances of how I used to animate for fun using sentimental objects and toys as opposed to
now; being able to create my own props and learn new techniques for the medium.

“However, throughout the process, I ended up delving into a rabbit hole of reflection, both within the animation course as well as throughout my life in general. How things have changed and adapted over time, as well as the progress I have made as a person.

In the end, I focused the most on the theme of progress. The story being told is based upon the process I ended up going through to make the animation itself; learning the basics again, experimenting with ideas and overcoming both physical and mental hurdles during its creation. Some of the original ideas remain the same whilst others changed drastically, and I’ve tried to compile all those ideas into my final piece.”
Is the dog making any progress?
Link to research: The expereince of this participant vividly illustrates the power of artistic practice for reflection and developing self-awareness. This can build confidence and positive views about ourselves that influence how we identify. The animation itself also reflects the process of discovery and the ups and downs of that journey.

Dust til Dawn
Artist notes: I didn’t really know what my animation was going to be about, so I decided to create a picture of nature and a winding path leading into the scene. “For me, being outdoors and walking in the countryside brings me a sense of peace I rarely feel anywhere else. My worries melt away perhaps reflected in the animation melting into being and reconnecting me to a place I love.” Reflecting on my animation I realised that it also reflects life’s journey. A lot of my life I have always been trying to achieve or get somewhere, but after facing so much loss recently I have come to realise it’s about the journey. I try to hold onto this and enjoy those moments of calm when they come and I hope this animation provides you with a moment of peace.
Research notes: Here is another example of artistic practice helping to process and understand expereinces, bringing about acceptance.

Pilgrimage
Artist notes: Pilgrimage is an abstract depiction of life altering events in a person’s life, the feeling of things crumbling and being in a black void. However, for Buddhists, a pilgrimage is a journey that fosters spiritual development and growth. This shows that through contemplation, even in the darkest of times,
glimpses of knowledge, happiness, enjoyment, and light can be found in learning to live within the moment and finding meaning during each step, regardless of where it takes you. “There is light at the end
of the tunnel, and with hope comes growth and reconnection to one’s self, passions, and life.”
Link to research: 

Same storm…
Notes:This animation brought together group contributions from the R3connect project to reflect findings from the research of Dr Peters. A quote from one of the research participants inspired the story to explain the expereince of living with mental illness and staying well. This was described as the ‘same storm, different ships’. To visualise metaphor a lone sail boat navigate a storm, representing illness. When the lighthouse appears, this represents community groups and organisations that offer opportunities to engage in creative activities, providing alternative expereinces from illness. People involved in R3connect created their own images of a boat or ship, which appear from the light house. Boats/ships of different shapes and sizes come to help the sail boat toeing them to the lighthouse, illustrating how people with shared lived expereinces can support each other to create safe communities. In doing so the sail boat transforms in colour, still the same boat but different. The boats/ships still remain in the storm, as many people must continue to live with ongoing illness, but the community group holds a safe space in which to grow.